Lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment

Abstract

A lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment includes an escutcheon plate in electrical communication with a power distribution circuit; and a plurality of LED bulbs, generally green or alternatively red, mounted on the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of an open circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is opened. The plate also includes a plurality of LED bulbs, generally red or alternatively green, mounted on the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of a close circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is closed. For tripped circuit conditions the plate includes a plurality of LED bulbs, generally yellow or amber, mounted on the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of a trip circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is tripped. Each of the plurality of LED bulbs are electrically connected and mounted such that should any of the plurality of LED bulbs fail, the remaining LED bulbs are capable of lighting to provide the visual indication of corresponding open, close and trip circuit status and the failed LED bulbs are capable of being replaced without interrupting the control power circuit. The plurality of LED bulbs used to indicate trip circuit status are electrically connected to flash on and off repetitively when lighted due to the trip circuit status.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment comprising: 
       an escutcheon plate, the escutcheon plate having terminals on a back side for electrical communication using a control power circuit;  
       a first plurality of LED bulbs of a predetermined color mounted in a predetermined arrangement on the escutcheon plate, the first plurality of LED bulbs being visible from a front side of the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of an open circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is opened;  
       a second plurality of LED bulbs of a predetermined color mounted in a predetermined arrangement on the escutcheon plate, the second plurality of LED bulbs being visible from a front side of the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of a close circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is closed;  
       the first plurality of LED bulbs being electrically connected and mounted such that should any of the first plurality of LED bulbs fail, the remaining LED bulbs are capable of lighting to provide the visual indication of the open circuit status and the failed LED bulbs are capable of being replaced from the front side of the escutcheon plate without interrupting the control power circuit; and  
       the second plurality of LED bulbs being electrically connected and mounted such that should any of the second plurality of LED bulbs fail, the remaining LED bulbs are capable of lighting to provide the visual indication of the close circuit status and the failed LED bulbs are capable of being replaced from the front side of the escutcheon plate without interrupting the control power circuit.  
     
     
       2. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a third plurality of LED bulbs of a predetermined color mounted in a predetermined arrangement on the escutcheon plate, the third plurality of LED bulbs being visible from a front side of the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of a trip circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is tripped; and  
       the third plurality of LED bulbs being electrically connected and mounted such that should any of said third plurality of LED bulbs fail, the remaining LED bulbs are capable of lighting to provide the visual indication of the trip circuit status and the failed LED bulbs are capable of being replaced from the front side of the escutcheon plate without interrupting the control power circuit.  
     
     
       3. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs are electrically connected to flash on and off repetitively when lighted due to the trip circuit status. 
     
     
       4. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column. 
     
     
       5. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column. 
     
     
       6. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column. 
     
     
       7. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of two separate single rows and two separate single columns. 
     
     
       8. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein the LED bulb colors for the first plurality of LED bulbs and corresponding second plurality of LED bulbs are one of  
       green colored LED bulbs for the first plurality of LED bulbs and red colored LED bulbs for the corresponding second plurality of LED bulbs, and  
       red colored LED bulbs for the first plurality of LED bulbs and green colored LED bulbs for the corresponding second plurality of LED bulbs.  
     
     
       9. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs are one of yellow and amber colored LED bulbs.  
     
     
       10. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 1 , 
       wherein each of the first plurality of LED bulbs and the second plurality of LED bulbs include a zener diode bridge circuit across each pair of LED bulbs in series succession so that should one of the LED bulbs fail, a voltage will increase across the pair of LED bulbs having the failed LED bulb to cause the remaining LED bulbs in the corresponding first and second plurality of LED bulbs to remain lighted, thereby not losing corresponding open and close circuit status indication.  
     
     
       11. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 2 , 
       wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs includes a zener diode bridge circuit across each pair of LED bulbs in series succession so that should one of the LED bulbs fail, a voltage will increase across the pair of LED bulbs having the failed LED bulb to cause the remaining LED bulbs in the third plurality of LED bulbs to remain lighted, thereby not losing trip circuit status indication.  
     
     
       12. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein the escutcheon plate is a control switch plate having handle means extending from the front side of the escutcheon plate for manually opening and closing of the power distribution circuit. 
     
     
       13. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 2 , wherein the escutcheon plate is remotely located and in electrical communication with a control switch plate having handle means extending from the front side of the escutcheon plate for manually opening and closing of the power distribution circuit. 
     
     
       14. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 12 , wherein the escutcheon plate is remotely located and in electrical communication with the control switch plate having handle means extending from the front side of the escutcheon plate for manually opening and closing of the power distribution circuit. 
     
     
       15. A lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment comprising: 
       an escutcheon plate, the escutcheon plate having terminals on a back side for electrical communication using a control power circuit;  
       a first plurality of LED bulbs of a predetermined color mounted in a predetermined arrangement on the escutcheon plate, the first plurality of LED bulbs being visible from a front side of the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of an open circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is opened;  
       a second plurality of LED bulbs of a predetermined color mounted in a predetermined arrangement on the escutcheon plate, the second plurality of LED bulbs being visible from a front side of the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of a close circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is closed;  
       a third plurality of LED bulbs of a predetermined color mounted in a predetermined arrangement on the escutcheon plate, the third plurality of LED bulbs being visible from a front side of the escutcheon plate, so as to provide a visual indication of a trip circuit status by lighting when the power distribution circuit is tripped;  
       the first plurality of LED bulbs being electrically connected and mounted such that should any of the first plurality of LED bulbs fail, the remaining LED bulbs are capable of lighting to provide the visual indication of the open circuit status and the failed LED bulbs are capable of being replaced from the front side of the escutcheon plate without interrupting the control power circuit;  
       the second plurality of LED bulbs being electrically connected and mounted such that should any of the second plurality of LED bulbs fail, the remaining LED bulbs are capable of lighting to provide the visual indication of the close circuit status and the failed LED bulbs are capable of being replaced from the front side of the escutcheon plate without interrupting the control power circuit;  
       the third plurality of LED bulbs being electrically connected and mounted such that should any of said third plurality of LED bulbs fail, the remaining LED bulbs are capable of lighting to provide the visual indication of the trip circuit status and the failed LED bulbs are capable of being replaced from the front side of the escutcheon plate without interrupting the control power circuit; and  
       the third plurality of LED bulbs being electrically connected to flash on and off repetitively when lighted due to the trip circuit status.  
     
     
       16. A lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 15 , 
       wherein the first plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column,  
       wherein the second plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column, and  
       wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column.  
     
     
       17. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 15 , 
       wherein the first plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column,  
       wherein the second plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of a single row and a single column, and  
       wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs is arranged in one of two separate single rows and two separate single columns.  
     
     
       18. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 15 , 
       wherein the LED bulb colors for the first plurality of LED bulbs and corresponding second plurality of LED bulbs are one of  
       green colored LED bulbs for the first plurality of LED bulbs and red colored LED bulbs for the second plurality of LED bulbs, and  
       red colored LED bulbs for the first plurality of LED bulbs and green colored LED bulbs for the second plurality of LED bulbs, and  
       wherein the third plurality of LED bulbs are one of yellow and amber colored LED bulbs.  
     
     
       19. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 15 , 
       wherein each of the first plurality of LED bulbs, the second plurality of LED bulbs, and the third plurality of LED bulbs include a zener diode bridge circuit across each pair of LED bulbs in series succession so that should one of the LED bulbs fail, a voltage will increase across the pair of LED bulbs having the failed LED bulb to cause the remaining LED bulbs in the corresponding first, second and third plurality of LED bulbs to remain lighted, thereby not losing corresponding open, close and trip circuit status indication.  
     
     
       20. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 15 , wherein the escutcheon plate is a control switch plate having handle means extending from the front side of the escutcheon plate for manually opening and closing of the power distribution circuit. 
     
     
       21. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 15 , wherein the escutcheon plate is remotely located and in electrical communication with a control switch plate having handle means extending from the front side of the escutcheon plate for manually opening and closing of the power distribution circuit. 
     
     
       22. The lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment according to  claim 20 , wherein the escutcheon plate is remotely located and in electrical communication with the control switch plate having handle means extending from the front side of the escutcheon plate for manually opening and closing of the power distribution circuit.